Print article

PM’s visits to Cambodia, Laos and Thailand help to create new impulses for friendship and cooperation

VNGOVNet – At the invitations of Cambodian PM Samdech Hun Sen, Lao PM Bouasone Bouphavanh, and Thai PM Surayud Chaulanont, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and the Vietnamese Gorvenment’s senior delegation paid separate visits to the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and the Kingdom of Thailand; attended the inauguration of the Friendship Bridge 2 connecting Mudahan (Thailand) and Savanakhet (Laos) from December 18 to 21, 2006. The visits were also made as an ASEAN practice when a new leader takes office.

December 22, 2006 9:36 AM GMT+7

Photo: VNGOVNet

 

The visits were the first to be made by PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng in his premiership. The hosting countries gave solemn receptions to the Vietnamese PM to display their respect to Vietnam’s prestige and role to them and other countries within the region as well as to express their hope to further the unity and cooperation with Vietnam in all fields.

The countries highly appreciated and showed their admiration to Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements in its national renovation. They affirmed that these successes will not only be important to the development of Vietnam in particular and of the region in general but also help increase Vietnam’s role and status in the international arena. They expressed their desire to strengthen their cooperation with Vietnam, especially in economy, trade and investment, in order to not only facilitate their development but also that of other countries in the Mekong Sub-region.

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng has talks with the leaders of Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, focusing on economic, trade and investment cooperation, of which the hosting countries are greatly fond and for which they hope to reach a high consensus, open good prospects and create new impulses for the sake of the relations between Vietnam and them.

Cambodia affirmed its full support for Vietnamese enterprises to do investment in Cambodia; requested Vietnam to speed up the construction of electric grids so as to sell electricity to it soon to meet its increasing demand for electricity; urged the construction of developed border economic areas, borderline markets, and border industrial parks with Vietnamese investment; suggested better cooperation in national defense and security, prevention of cross-border crimes and epidemics, and opening more international border-gates to facilitate economic development. Cambodia initiated the establishment of the Association of Rice Exporters within the framework of the Ayayewady-Chap Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation (ACMECS), including Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.

 

 

Photo: VNGOVNet

 

Laos suggested boosted implementation of Vietnam’s investment projects in Southern Laos and the Development Triangle, and promoted cooperation in hydroelectricity, mining, trade, telecommunication, and aviation. Laos asked to increase the role of cooperation subcommittees under the Intergovernmental Committee so that they can play the central role of regulating economic, trade and investment cooperation.

Thailand stressed the enhanced economic cooperation with Vietnam in investment and trade. Thailand suggested that the two countries should closely collaborate with each other as two motive forces encouraging Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Bangladesh to develop. The leaders of the two countries proposed and discussed ways to boost cooperation in using the East-West Corridor to develop passenger and cargo transport, and ensure the security along the route. Thailand also initiated some measures to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties.

 

 

Photo: VNGOVNet

 

Apart from the official talks, the Vietnamese delegation also signed some documents on political, economic, trade and investment cooperation at the Governmental and enterprises levels. PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng had meetings with some big Cambodian, Lao and Thai enterprises who are interested in doing business with Vietnam.

The documents are expected to further the multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, especially in economy./.

By Hoàng Nguyên Hồ